Minister understands local concern over Lichfield HS2 viaduct plan

Philip Hammond leaves the Guildhall in Lichfield after meeting protesters

The Government’s transport minister has admitted he can understand the concern of Lichfield residents over the proposed high-speed rail route through the city.

Speaking during a visit to Lichfield, Philip Hammond revealed that he had been to see for himself the location of a viaduct which would carry the route above the A38 and into Streethay.

The viaduct has become the headline feature of the campaign to halt the HS2 route through the city – and the minister confirmed that the route had not yet been finalised.

But while he refused to rule out the viaduct, he did hint that his visit had given him food for thought.

He added:

“I can see why people are concerned about it. We have talked in the meeting about possible solutions to that. It’s one thing to sit in a meeting in a town hall with a map devising possible solutions – it is another thing to get something that works from an engineering point of view.”